11.   But it was Bush who failed to reach across the aisle and negotiate a bill that could be acceptable to more than three conservative Democratic senators.

12.   But his nomination hit a stumbling block in November, when conservative senators raised objections to his written responses to questions about abortion.

13.   But Lott, at the behest of a number of conservative senators, has refused to move the nomination to the floor.

14.   But Lott, at the request of a small group of conservative senators, has refused to move the nomination to the floor.

15.   But some of his written responses to questions about abortion provoked concern among conservative senators.

16.   But one conservative state senator said it would be naive to think communism is dead.

17.   Chafee, however, pointed to recent Republican losses -- the five conservative incumbent senators who were beaten by Democrats last year -- and drew a different conclusion.

18.   Chief among them was a move by conservative GOP senators to ban most use of Medicaid money for abortions.

19.   Conservative senators long wary of Trent Lott, the dealmaker, say their leader is finally showing some spine.

20.   Conservative senators strongly opposed the Lieberman-Gorton plan, saying the Constitution and precedent call for a full trial.